Folding chair with detachable storage bag

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of a folding chair and storage bag combination includes a folding chair including first and second frame members each being rectangular and having a top rail, a bottom rail, and two interconnecting rails having a pivot in an intermediate point wherein the first and second frame members are joined together at the pivots, and the folding chair further including a seating surface having two sides formed as tubes securely looped around the top rails of the first and second frame members, the seating surface including two first hook-and-loop fasteners each provided on an underside of its either tube; and a storage bag including two handles and two second hook-and-loop fasteners each provided on an inner surface of either side of its top opening. The storage bag can mount under the seating surface by attaching the first hook-and-loop fasteners to the second hook-and-loop fasteners.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to folding chairs and more particularly tosuch a folding chair having a storage bag detachably engaged therewith.

2. Related Art

Folding chairs are well known. Folding chairs provides the convenienceof a chair together with the compactness of storage. In a foldedposition, a folding chair occupies less space than a non-folding chair.Another advantage of the folding chair is lightweight. Thus, a personmay easily carry a folded chair to a place where it is to be used.Further, it is typical of carrying goods such as books, snack items,beverages, or the like by means of a bag. Hence, a need has arisen foran improved folding chair adapted to assemble with a storage bag in anunfolded position and enable a person to carry them a unitary memberfrom place to place in a folded position, or detach therefrom so thatthey can be used independently.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a foldingchair adapted to assemble with a storage bag in an unfolded position andenable a person to carry them a unitary member from place to place in afolded position, or detach therefrom so that they can be usedindependently.

To achieve the above and other objects, the present invention provides afolding chair and storage bag combination comprising a folding chairincluding first and second frame members each being rectangular andhaving a top rail, a bottom rail, and two interconnecting rails eachhaving a pivot in an intermediate point wherein the first and secondframe members are joined together at the pivots, and the folding chairfurther including a seating surface having two sides formed as tubessecurely looped around the top rails of the first and second framemembers, the seating surface including two detachable firsthook-and-loop fasteners each provided on an underside of its eithertube; and a storage bag including two handles and two detachable secondhook-and-loop fasteners each provided on an inner surface of either sideof its top opening; wherein the storage bag is adapted to mount underthe seating surface by attaching the first hook-and-loop fasteners tothe corresponding second hook-and-loop fasteners.

In one aspect of the present invention the internal space of the storagebag is divided into a plurality of compartments, and one of thecompartments has its inner surface formed of thermal insulationmaterial.

In another aspect of the present invention the storage bag furthercomprises a plurality of pockets formed on either side by sewing, andtwo sets of hanging straps formed on four corners of its top opening,each hanging strap having a buckle at one end and a hole at the otherend, and wherein the buckle of each of the hanging straps is adapted tosecure to the hole thereof after flipping the hanging strap over the toprail of either one of the first and second frame members.

In a further aspect of the present invention the storage bag furthercomprises a plurality of pockets formed on either side by sewing, andfour sets of two ropes, each set being secured to one of four corners ofits top opening, and wherein the rope of each set is adapted to tie tothe other rope thereof for securing to the top rail of either one of thefirst and second frame members.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of foldingchair and storage bag according to the invention where the chair is inan erect position with the bag mounted under a seating surface of thechair;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the folded chair and the bag beingcarried by the hand;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the chair and the bag separated eachother so that they can be used independently;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an unfolded folding chair and aseparated storage bag according to a second preferred embodiment of theinvention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an unfolded folding chair and aseparated storage bag according to a third preferred embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, a first preferred embodiment of the inventionis shown. The embodiment comprises a folding chair (hereinafter calledchair) 10 and a storage bag (hereinafter called bag) 20. Each componentis discussed in detailed below.

The chair 10 comprises identical first and second frame members 11 and12 each being rectangular and made of lightweight, strong material(e.g., preferably, aluminum tube). The first and second frame members 11and 12 are joined together at about centers of front and rear railsthereof by means of two pivot pins 13. That is, the first and secondframe members 11 and 12 can pivot about the pivot pins 13 to eitherfully extend the chair 10 or fully fold same. To provide a surface uponwhich a person can sit, the chair 10 is provided with a seating surface14. In the embodiment, the seating surface 14 is a single piece offabric and has its two sides formed as tubes securely looped around toprails of both the first and second frame members 11 and 12. Also, adetachable hook-and-loop fastener (not shown) is provided on anunderside of either side tube of the seating surface 14.

The bag 20 is implemented as a tote bag in the embodiment and comprisestwo handles 21 and two detachable hook-and-loop fasteners 22 eachprovided on an inner surface of either side of its top opening. Aninternal space of the bag 20 is divided into a first compartment 231having an inner surface formed of excellent thermal insulation materialso as to store bottled containers (e.g., spring water bottles, coffeecans, or the like) 91, and a second compartment 232 for storing goods(e.g., books or the like) 92.

In a chair-erected position as indicated by arrows P1 (see FIGS. 1 and2), the chair 10 is unfolded and the seating surface 14 is fullyextended with a space 101 formed under the seating surface 14. Further,the bag 20 with goods 91 and 92 placed therein is adapted to mount underthe seating surface 14 by attaching the hook-and-loop fasteners 22 tothe corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners of the seating surface 14.

For folding the chair 10, a simple pushing of the top rails of the firstand second frame members 11 and 12 toward each other by pivoting sameabout the pivot pins 13 is sufficient as indicated by arrows P2 in FIG.3. Thereafter, the hand may hold the handles 21 for carrying both thechair 10 and the bag 20 from place to place with goods 91 and 92 carriedtherewith.

Moreover, the bag 20 can be detached from the chair 10 by disengagingthe hook-and-loop fasteners 22 with the hook-and-loop fasteners of thechair 10. Thereafter, they can be used independently (see FIG. 4).

Referring to FIG. 5, a second preferred embodiment of the invention isshown. The characteristic of the second preferred embodiment is the bagas detailed below. The bag 20 further comprises a plurality of smallpockets 24 sewn to either side, and two sets of hanging straps 25 formedon four top corners in which both ends of the elongated hook-and-loopfastener 22 are disposed proximate the hanging straps 25 of the sameset. A buckle and a hole are formed at both ends of the hanging strap25. Tool items (not shown) can be placed in the pockets 24. In assembly,the buckle of the hanging strap 25 can secure to the hole thereof afterflipping the hanging strap 25 over the top rail of either one of thefirst and second frame members 11 and 12. Next, attach the hook-and-loopfasteners 22 to the corresponding hook-and-loop fasteners of the seatingsurface 14 for mounting the bag 20 under the seating surface 14. Thisfinishes the assembly of the bag 20 and the chair 10. Weight of the bag20 can be increased significantly after placing the tool items in thepockets 24. Thus, the provision of the hanging straps 25 aims atproviding another fastening of the bag 20 and the chair 10 in additionto the hook-and-loop fasteners so as to reliably secure the bag 20 tothe chair 10. Otherwise, the heavy bag 20 may fall onto the supportingground.

Referring to FIG. 6, a third preferred embodiment of the invention isshown. The third embodiment is identical to the second embodiment,except that the hanging straps 25 are replaced by four sets of two shortropes 26 having the same supporting effect in which each set is securedto one of four top corners of the bag by sewing. In a first step ofassembly, one rope 26 of each set ties to the other rope 26 thereof forsecuring to the top rail of either one of the first and second framemembers 11 and 12.

While the invention herein disclosed has been described by means ofspecific embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could bemade thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from thescope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.

1. A folding chair and storage bag combination comprising: a foldingchair including first and second frame members each being rectangularand having a top rail, a bottom rail, and two interconnecting rails eachhaving a pivot in an intermediate point wherein the first and secondframe members are joined together at the pivots, and the folding chairfurther including a seating surface having two sides formed as tubessecurely looped around the top rails of the first and second framemembers, the seating surface including two detachable firsthook-and-loop fasteners each provided on an underside of its eithertube; and a storage bag including two handles and two detachable secondhook-and-loop fasteners each provided on an inner surface of either sideof its top opening; wherein the storage bag is adapted to mount underthe seating surface by attaching the first hook-and-loop fasteners tothe corresponding second hook-and-loop fasteners.
 2. The folding chairand storage bag combination of claim 1, wherein the internal space ofthe storage bag is divided into a plurality of compartments.
 3. Thefolding chair and storage bag combination of claim 2, wherein one of thecompartments has its inner surface formed of thermal insulationmaterial.
 4. The folding chair and storage bag combination of claim 1,wherein the storage bag further comprises a plurality of pockets formedon either side by sewing, and two sets of hanging straps formed on fourcorners of its top opening, each hanging strap having a buckle at oneend and a hole at the other end, and wherein the buckle of each of thehanging straps is adapted to secure to the hole thereof after flippingthe hanging strap over the top rail of either one of the first andsecond frame members.
 5. The folding chair and storage bag combinationof claim 1, wherein the storage bag further comprises a plurality ofpockets formed on either side by sewing, and four sets of two ropes,each set being secured to one of four corners of its top opening, andwherein the rope of each set is adapted to tie to the other rope thereoffor securing to the top rail of either one of the first and second framemembers.